Oct 29, 2012

hey ya'll

so my computer is going real slow and i only have 11 minutes left on my computer timer because the sisters forgot their cards and took up 90 min....... but oh well.  I'll just write fast.

ghmmmmmmmmmmmm this week.

well I'll start with the bad first... so I seem like a better person at the end(learned that in English class... thank you HS!) haha anyway my companion and i took a huge step backwards and then rolled off a cliff and hit a pile of molten rock followed by a field of cactus and then last but no least having a rabbit raccoon attack. so it was pretty bad... we were actually somewhat doing good but then he did a few things to kill the trust we slowly gained, or at least that i gained for him. started out he totally chewed me out for missing a contact opportunity and then proceeded to role play with another missionary about how it should be done. later that day he gave permission to others to use my stuff and then when he came back in the room said "don't worry about it" i was sooooooo angry. it was bad. but seriously its like he thought of everything that bugs me and thats what he does.... just 5 more weeks..... but on the good side of things we had a wonderful baptism a little tense because she's old and the water was cold and she was afraid of water and her son was being very timid and didn't hold her correctly but then it took the 3rd time to get her dunked haha but we did it and it was a great evening after that. the weather is changing rapidly here and its getting colder. Frankie's not baptized yet but her mother is slowly coming around. very slowly. but hopefully we have 6 possible baptismal dates before the end of the year. its crazy to see that October's almost done! it flew by like crazy fast.

 

well my computer crashed so i lost lots of time and so i gotta go... hope to talk more next week.

Love ya'll and sorry i couldn't talk much..

-Elder McAllister

10/22/12

Hey yal!

ya sorry about that letter... gotta love my companion i guess haha but anyway yeah we have picked up ol rust buckets and try to put em back together. had to do alotta work on em. and we got the car back a few days ago but its nice that we now each have our own bike to ride. mine a GMC so its the best even though its not a Chevy... anyway!!! haha I've fixed mine up way good its a road bike floats like a catalac and stings like a Beamer.(caddys don't float anymore though haha but for the sake of the expression) it was real nice to focus and work on fixing the bikes it let me take my mind off all the stress and craziness of my mission and the added crap from my companion. plus i got to get dirty and make stuff work so it was an overall great opportunity.

haha tell meg to be Captain America!! haha and speaking of that one guy down here does car restoration. and so when i get my truck he said he'll paint it a dark grey and put a Captain America shield on the hood or tailgate when i get off my mission!! haha how cool would that be!!

So you know what today is??? been out 1 transfer or 2 months or 10% of my mission. IDK about the math on the percentage cause it was my MTC guys that told me that.

So this past week has been good Monterrey was fun but i believe i told yal about that last time. clam chowder is gross. but johnny rockets is delicious. got some cool Chevy and FD signs and pictures though so my wall is all tricked out on my side of the desks. there was 3 languages there, European and Asian and Spanish. because all the rich foreigners go there and then the shop keepers all mostly Hispanic haha soo it was definitely weird compared to Colorado.

yeah camera broke and i was going to buy one but i thought "i know my mom" and she would probably use those amazing discount coupon clearance shopping skills to find a good one. so i didn't buy one. do i know my mother or what??(that's bragging to dad and the girls ;) ) well as long as it uses the same big SD card that i have in mine it'll work! i saw most camera's these days are around 16 mega pixels so that'd be nice to have one there or better and if possible to get one with a 6x zoom "ish" but whatever is reasonable for yal to get. i don't want to be a burden sense I'm already sucking ya 400 dry a month.... and I've got a baptism this Saturday so idk if you can overnight it or anything but yeah. whatever works for yal sorry that it broke. i was sitting in the truck heading to Monterrey and the camera was on the seat in between my legs and we went past Fort Ord so i wanted to take a picture and it wouldn't work.... something with the lens not moving and such. sorry for the inconvenience.

this week has been fast in the week but not much has occurred. we did service at a LA who owns a paintball field and shop so i got a cool barrel plug for my gun when i get back! plus he was a Fire Fighter so its the best of both worlds!

lets see so biggest news! Grandma Cascio is getting baptized Saturday. Her son Frank is baptizing her and hopefully(well find out today) Frankie(franks daughter) well be getting baptized as well! all depends on the mother though who is saying no to say no but miracles have been happening and frank, members of the ward and us have been working hard to sooth her ruffled feathers and she's slowly getting there. so Frankie and i had this funny little game where i kept saying she needed to "pay me back" even though there was nothings and she was having fun with it and kept bring it up and such for the past week and last night at a fireside she started it up again so i started playing along and this sweet little angel had gotten me a snickers bar and put it in my hand and just smiled... i was blown away by this. it was just a simple candy bar but idk i was so happy and she game me the biggest hug afterwards and i was just speechless. such a wonderful and innocent spirit and her mother is keeping her from eternal life... its sad. but i love the Cascio family all of em!! there so funny and great, frank just today took us out for breakfast and had lots of laughs.

so we had stake conference too and Elder Echo Hawk that spoke in conference came to ours it was real neat hearing his heritage and focus on family history. first time going to an adult session too. i felt way tooo immature for it haha i was doodling a bit and all the old people were looking at me funny maybe my face or hair was weird that night I'm not sure.

last night was the "outgoing fireside" for missionaries leaving for home. it was extremely spiritual and my Great Grandfather is going home. so we got a 4 generation photo which is pretty cool. but because its on my companions camera it'll be a little while before i get it on my flash drive and can send it home. all i could think about that fireside was me and my 7 best best friends in the whole world will be up there all saying our goodbyes.. in 2 years. it seems like forever but at the same time i think and its really not that far off. a few of the Elders were there from the MTC and it was just what the doctor ordered because we got to laugh and reminisce in good times and talk about our areas and everything. it was just really good. first time I've had a great laugh and conversation with a missionary sense Exchanges with Elder Aranda. I really hope i getta have a few transfers with those Elders they mean alot to me. its funny i know 7 guys that i spent a month with crammed in a room better than i know the friends i had in HS for 4 years. its crazy! but ya they are my brothers and it was just so good to see em.

during the fireside a senior missionary spoke a few words comparing missionaries to SEAL team 6, best of the best. and i have a spin off i made so I'm giving partial credit to her haha. but... missionaries are like EMS and Fire Fighters, were on call 24/7 to go out and save a soul. just like FIRE and EMS we are always training and refining our trade to help us better rescue and save those in need at a moments notice. there is one difference that is key, when EMS and FIRE save a life it is temporal. when missionaries save a life, it is eternal. that sinks deep. especially for me. and it is the perfect analogy for missionaries i feel.

speaking of FIRE there a so many members of the ward that are in or retired FIRE i get all the goodies :) haha Station tours, hoodies, tshirts, posters, the lot!

oh can you take $40 out of my bank 20 for tithing and 20 for fast offerings thank you! don't wanna forget tithing on my last paycheck from CARMAX.

well that was my spiritual though for yal this week and ill try to be better about it from now on. i hope yal are keeping up on all the events that carry us through life! oh did i get a ballet by chance? id love to vote still. got to hear a little of the debates ;) go Romney!!

anyway gotta run thanks for the early Christmas Gift ;) and I love yal soo much. i miss ya alot too. and Duke as well.

Love

-Elder McAllister

10/16/12

Hey!

wow Arizona huh?? that cool you like close to me haha.

So this week is crazy!! it was a good 105 degrees and then poured rain for 2 days and has been pretty chilly sens, except now has been real good weather.

I gave my talk! and it went great! i was nervous for a bout 3 words then i felt the nerves just get taken right outta me and i was made bold and powerful. I had multiple members come up and tell me my testimony and talk were all inspired so i guess i did an OK job at earning the trust of the ward.

sorry this letter is brief we don't have much time and I'm the mechanic down here for bikes because my companion broke the car haha so we got a few new old bikes i gotta fix up today plus all the missionary work.

WOW ITS already mid October!! and I'm 1 transfer down!!

just the usual with the ward they feed us well and are the most hard working and missionary minded ward I've been to. Ward Council is very interesting so now i know where yer coming from Mom.

so for P-day yesterday we went to Monterrey! which in actuality is just a place for stuck up rich people to go from foreign places haha it was cool though to see. i swear all the people were speaking like European languages and then all the shop keepers were speaking Spanish and I was the only white boy hahaha.

Oh so guess what my camera broke.... the lens wont focus or zoom or move. so looks like ill have to drop a 100 on a camera from target. I was thinkin of a Sony Cyber shot. mother advise me on this I know its your blood :)

Hollister is such a wonderful place! i love all the members down here. a lot of em to are Fire Fighters so i got lots of cool pictures and jackets and such :) I've got a cool wall of everything.

my companions my companion, still not communicating details or what occurs in phone calls with me so if it keeps like this ill have a bit of a challenge getting into the swing of things after I'm trained and he moves out. so hopefully ill come out OK.

goodness time is starting to fly. but at the same time the days are soooo long...

Hope y'all are doing great sorry I had to cut it short today but I love each of you and pray for each of your well being

ill be sending pictures home this week after we print the Monterrey ones off probably Wednesday. Love ya all

-Elder McAllister

Oct 8, 2012

hey hey guys! so first off yes i got the package and loved it! the rolls were totally smashed but still taste delicious. and for the music Megan also something with some banjo I'm cravin some banjo right now haha. an with the clothes ya just some tshirts and basketball shorts that you think id like and that would fit me. ummm i believe that was all the questions right???

so conference was amazing i can definitely see a difference between being a member of the church and being an Elder for the church the ratio of information gained is unreal. I loved conference and there were so many good talks. Uchtdorf was definitely my favorite though with his talk about the journey of our life and such. what'd ya think of priesthood Pops? girls what were your favorite talks? ill reread em when the ensign comes in. it was crazy to see the change in age for missionaries but i think it is a wonderful idea to keep kids from getting in trouble. and i can see God's 4th Qtr blitz coming in to play with it sense Satan is always blitzing harder and harder. God raises the bar and so Satan follows. but we all know who'll win!

The temple.... holey cow! haha it was magnificent. so the temple grounds are on a jut of a cliff and so it stands out quite a bit and on a clear day you can see Oakland and see across the bay to San Fran and Golden Gate and all the various bridges and big container ships. the temple looks like a huge castle right? haha well its not... its pretty small actually. about the size of Denver, but 2 stories. and 2 little bits of trivia its is the only temple that has a sound in the Celestial room, a fan blows against the chandelier and makes the most beautiful chime i have ever and will ever hear. the other, they turned off all the lights at night to save money and that night the airport called and asked them to turn it back on because that was a land mark for the pilots and they were getting lost coming in to final approach haha. crazy stuff huh! but the temple was wonderful that is my favorite temple. everything about it is spectacular, the grounds are beautiful and the inside is breath taking. I love the temples so much and the only thing i love more is the ordinances that come from the temple. especially sealings. how wonderful is it to think that I get to spend all eternity with 5 of the most special and important people of my life, and possible even my wonderful pooch ;) I can think of no there blessing that is worth that to me. I never really realized it til at the temple. Girls always have the temple in your cross hairs always set that to be your goal if the boy you are interested in doesn't have that same cross hair kick him to the curb no matter how good he is. its that important. Mom Pops always always try to get to the temple each month, the peace and love that is felt there as you know can calm and sea and whether and storm.

Dang I'm running out of time to email but have so much more to talk about!! haha  So ill try to cram int all in.

this week I've finally got L1 and L2 and part of L3 down and ready to teach, gonna be teaching L2 here to a lady who dropped us to take Jehovah Witness lessons, but now is listening to us again so hopefully all goes well and the spirit will be with us.

Some things I've learned the hard way, gotta always stay humble.... always. you can do nothing in missionary work and with anything for that matter without the spirit of the Lord with you and Guiding you. I've had to learn patience real quick here with my situation and boy did i had to learn it fast haha. but I'm getting better today for once has the mixins for a good day, how the morning starts off is usually how the day ends.

the work is booming here in Hollister, we have 5 progressing, and another 4-5 potentials. our goal is to baptize and bring them all into the Fold of God. were working with this crazy funny and lovable grandma, i might have spoken about her before but she is on the way to quit smoking and coffee and then be baptized on the 27th and the prayer is that her granddaughter can be baptized on the same day, but her mom is saying no just to say no, remember the girl i said looked and reminded me of KK? ya that's the one. her dad is a member and just got interviewed for the Mel. Priesthood. which will allow him to both baptize and confirm both his daughter and mom. there a wonderful family to visit and teach.

I'm starting to become a missionary! i feel i know what its all about now and I'm getting into the swing of things real well. plus I've already got ideas for y'alls Christmas presents and Ive gotta say there good ones :) haha oh I finally looked ahead and it looks like ill most likely be here in Hollister til March'ish, isn't that wonderful?? i can think of no other place id want to go. I can stay here my whole mission and I'd be happy! ok maybe one transfer somewhere else like Santa Cruz or something but then end right back where i started! anyway gotta talk on Sunday and its alot harder to prepare a talk without the help of the general authorities that so many members use in there talks but I've got a good one coming i can feel it!

Oh so with pictures, the public library computers don't have anyway to put pictures on em(partly because i forgot to bring my camera cord) and so I'll take them to target and get prints so after today I'll probably send y'all some pictures of Hollister! so be lookin.

I love y'all so much, I miss you each day and pray for your well being.

Love,

-Elder McAllister

Oct 4

Hey y'all sorry about the sporadic emails we have to go to the public library to write and sometimes we have appointments early on Pdays so we cant write. and this week has been crazy! our Temple day is tomorrow so the ZL made that the Pday for the week plus we had ZC yesterday and 12 hrs of conference coming up so this week is crazy! so just expect an email from me anytime of the week. and I'm only allowed to write to you so if you could just forward it all that'd be nice so Grandparents don't worry haha.

wow just now had a conversation with a Lady that wants to do family history and so I jumped onto family search and showed her stuff and we might just have gotten a new investigator!!! so cool how the Lord brings people ready to hear us to us. so cross your fingers there.

so this week real crazy and real stressful. I was literally about to explode this week from my companion. luckily we went on Exchanges and I went over to the Spanish branch for the day and I couldn't understand anything said but I felt the most spirit and had for the first time in the field a happy enjoyable and very productive day. Elder Aranda was the Elder I was with and we had such a good time! and he helped me so much with my uneasiness about my Gospel knowledge and understandings. I owe him so much. He also gave me a poker chip that his trainer gave him and told me what he told him, to "always go all in" and boy its changed my outlook on everything. my confidence in my own personal gospel knowledge and understanding is slowly growing and I'm slowly ever so slowly turning into a good missionary. I loved exchanges Elder Aranda and I had a wonderful time together and our investigators laughed and were enjoyable and felt the spirit so strong in the lessons. Elder Aranda would translate some of my points I wanted to add in and so I was incorporated a bit. I've never had that happiness and enjoyment in the work with Elder Clarke... so after exchanges right back into the dark and dreary wilderness... I was asking Elder Clarke how the people he saw that day were and how they were progressing and all i could get outta him was "good" no mater how much I prayed, "their doing good." GAWWW! I couldn't believe it, He's supposed to Train me not keep me from doing and knowing anything... plus all he wants to do is go see this new RC and her son who is a RC and just talk and play their guitar. I'm like we should probably be trying to meet with investigators... so I'm back and all worked up because of this and so hopefully I can cool off and repent so I'll be able to enter the temple and feel some peace... because I desperately need it. I love the people here, I love the Gospel, I love the investigators, I love the people that blow me off on the street, but I haven't been able to enjoy my mission as much as I should because of this... Its dragging me down so much. each day is harder to get up to knowing what I'll be dealing with. I know I gotta have patience and just deal with it, but its easier said than dun with my personality. I pray so hard and so immensely for strength to just let it go and to shake it off and I'm getting better at it. So please pray for some strength for me, because I need it sense I've got at least another transfer with him. sorry for sounding like a little girl there.

so for the positive, Got a letter from Aunt Elaine... nice letter about her relatives in Fremont, well see if I get up there. Zone Conference was wonderful, I learned a lot and my testimony grew exponentially. were getting more and more Less actives to invite us to dinner which is fantastic and people that had dropped us long ago are now calling to meet with us which is also very amazing! so there's quite a lot of work to do here in Hollister! and so Hopefully focusing on that will take my mind off the whole companionship deal. but yes we've got 7 potential baptismal candidates here so hopefully within the year we'll be able to help them come unto Christ and to feel God's love for them and Help them come into Christs restored Church. I'm excited for all the work to be done. Cant wait to keep it going! did i mention I love Hollister??? haha I do. only problem I have is it'd be nice to have an In-N-Out here and maybe a Ross. speaking of Ross think you could find me a few good work shirts and gym shorts there? I made a huge mistake brings a buncha nice shirts that I cant use anyway haha so yeah and shirts or shorts you'd think Id like at Ross if you could send some that'd be excellent 2 of each isn't cuttin it here with all the service we do. haha so service.... so we organized a bedroom for a blind lady who couldn't picture what we were doing so it took 4 hours to move and understand that we moved 6 pieces of furniture haha it was so funny. she's a very spiritual lady and has a fantastic testimony but it was funny to move a room for her. hmmm what else. cant wait for the temple tomorrow!! i need it bad.

So i have another question for ya.. anyway you can send me a copy of my Line of Authority? it would be real handy. theres been a couple times I've had the impressions to use it but didn't have it.

Megan! i have a favor to ask you. i can listen to music, and uplifting music. can you burn a CD of Rob Crabtree's Pipers legacy? its all pipe music. and if you find any good song by the Nashville tribute which is a LDS country band that I've come to love. if not no biggy but that'd be cool if ya could. thanks!

its so hot here.... apparently fall is hotter than summer here, 104-107 this past week....... not good. but its good i lost a good 15 Lbs in water weight haha.

Gotta go love y'all soo much! I pray for each of you every day.

Elder McAllister